Do Wasps Drink Nectar?
WouterWhether you’re a newcomer to the world of wasps or have always wondered about the different types, you may be wondering if they drink nectar. These tiny insects are known to pollinate many flowers and eat a variety of insects.
Some species of wasps are generalist pollinators, while others are specialized for a particular type of flower. They are generally attracted to plants with sweet liquids or flowers with specific floral traits. Some are strict in their diet, while others will eat a variety of insects.
While some wasps have a sweet tooth, others prefer to feed on smaller insects. Some will pierce the base of flowers to gain access to nectar. Some wasps are predators, feeding on insects that destroy plants. Others hunt other invertebrates, such as aphids. Other wasps are parasitic, laying eggs on living hosts.
Wasps can’t produce honey like bees, but some species are capable of making nectar. A Mexican honey wasp for example, feeds on pollen and regurgitates it to make honey. This type of honey is almost identical to that produced by honey bees.
Wasps also eat insects, such as flies, spiders, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. The diet of a yellow jacket wasp, for example, is mostly carbohydrates. They get their carbohydrates from tree sap, fruit, and flowers.
Wasps don’t have a long body hair like bees, but they do have short ‘tongues’ that allow them to eat a variety of insects. They also have shiny, sharp stingers.
